Say the word "Pilates," and most people picture a row of sleek reformers and a flexible woman in a matching set making impossible movements look effortless. What happens inside The Optimist Pilates feels entirely different. The mix of people—students of every age and ability—tells its own story, and that tone starts with founder Olivia Stuart, a former professional ballerina who teaches with a genuine belief that every body is capable of more than it realizes.
Her own turning point came during a season that nearly ended her ballet career. In 2013, a serious ankle injury left her unable to train the way she once had. “The only thing I could really do for fitness was Pilates,” she says. “I was basically living at the Pilates studio. And after a year, I came back to the stage stronger than ever.” The physical and emotional benefits turned her into a lifelong champion of the practice. “It gave me optimism at a point in my life when my mental health was plummeting.”
That sense of hope would eventually shape her Birmingham studio. She named it The Optimist because of the feeling her workouts bring. Today, her classes fill with college athletes and retirees, new moms and seasoned professionals, teens learning control and older adults working to maintain their independence.
Olivia arrived in Alabama when her husband, Chris, became the Artistic Director of Alabama Ballet. “I’m loving the small-town feel,” she says. “For a girl from Philadelphia who never thought she’d end up in Alabama, I have truly fallen in love with this tight-knit community.” The Optimist is also poised to be the first Balanced Body Authorized Training Center in Alabama. Olivia, a Balanced Body Educator since 2020, is thrilled to offer high-quality Pilates education and mentoring to the next generation of movement practitioners.
What sets The Optimist Pilates apart is a mix of community, precision, and respect for every unique body that walks through the door. “We are inclusive, we are joy-filled, and we are results-driven,” she says. Her team keeps detailed notes—on injuries, surgeries, mobility, and goals—to ensure each participant thrives. Smart adaptations make the work accessible, and thoughtful progressions make it challenging.
“We strive to challenge every member,” she says. “Our Reformer 1 class is a great place to start and gauge which class type is best for you. Our Reformer 2 classes move at a faster pace and are more intense. You’re going to get a really good workout either way. Group classes are rarely personalized in the fitness industry, but my team has the education behind them to know how to modify for a client and likewise will adjust a spring or add a variation for the client who’s ready to level up. It’s a beautiful thing watching a multi-generational class move together—and everyone’s getting stronger.”
Still, strength for strength’s sake has never been Olivia’s message. The deeper purpose—especially among her older clients—is lifelong independence. “The goal isn’t washboard abs,” she says (though you may end up with them). “The goal is to stay out of the nursing home as long as possible.” She talks about osteoporosis, osteopenia, balance, and bone density with the clarity of someone who has seen real change. “We have to make smart modifications to reduce the risk of fractures and falls for osteoporosis, but you can absolutely take a group class with us. We’ve even reversed osteoporosis numbers in DEXA scans!”
Pilates, she says, supports the entire arc of a life—how you stand, breathe, and age. The Optimist now serves as “the official Pilates studio of the Alabama Ballet,” training dancers who rely on their anatomical knowledge and keen eye. Olivia also works with people who haven’t stretched since high school gym class. Some of her most loyal clients live in Nashville and still log on for weekly Zoom privates—many of whom have been with her since 2015.
“They roll out of bed, take their private lesson, shower, and go live their day,” she says. “Moving to an online platform in the height of a pandemic wasn’t exactly on my bingo card, but continuing to work with clients for over a decade, despite moving out of state, has been an incredible blessing. I’ve seen these clients gain autonomy through the years, and as long as my clients feel stronger and empowered with me, I’ll keep working with them virtually.”
Whether she’s working with longtime clients or welcoming new faces into her studio, her mission remains constant: “I want people to feel capable,” she says. “Strong enough to chase their kids. Strong enough to lift their groceries. Strong enough to live their life without fear of injury.”
For newcomers, she keeps the path simple. “For most people, Reformer 1 is a great entry point. If you’re brand new and have injuries or pain, start with a private lesson,” she says. She’s also seeing more men in the studio as it continues to grow. “People forget that Pilates was created by a man, Joseph Pilates. We hope to create a space that’s just as welcoming to men as it is to women.” They’re even hosting a guys’ night pop-up class for anyone curious about the buzz.
In a world of quick fixes and shortcuts, more people are discovering the value of making wellness a way of life. “If you don’t have your health, then what do you have?” Olivia says. Her work is about helping those in Birmingham live their healthiest, strongest life and creating, as she puts it, “a community of people to be with, laugh with, and get strong with.”
Learn more at theoptimistpilates.com or @theoptimistpilates
"The only thing I could really do for fitness was Pilates..And after a year, I came back to the stage stronger than ever."
"It’s a beautiful thing watching a multi-generational class move together—and everyone’s getting stronger.”